May Digital Accessibility Roundup

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This Month's Roundup Powered by: IDEX Corporation

Welcome to Disability: IN’s monthly round up of digital accessibility news for May.

At Disability:IN we know that digital accessibility impacts all aspects of disability inclusion. If you have questions about our digital accessibility program, please contact Jeff Wissel, our Chief Accessibility Officer.

Disability:IN Happenings

There is an exciting addition to the Disability:IN 2024 Disability Equality Index. Procurement Accessibility is a new category with non-weighted questions for 2024!

Advancing accessibility through procurement is a critical component of a mature accessibility program. Is your company advancing accessibility through your procurement process? If so, then consider signing on to the Procure Access Statement. Wherever you are on the journey of establishing or advancing accessibility in your procurement process you can find the information you need in the Procure Access Toolkit.

And be sure to watch the Building Block Series to learn how industry leaders have implemented accessibility requirements into their procurement processes.

Save the Date! Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is May 16th and Disability:IN is celebrating with a full day of virtual events on digital accessibility featuring panelists from around the world. If you are an employee of a Disability:IN Corporate Partner Company, register for the 2024 GAAD virtual events sponsored by Microsoft via the Partner Portal.

Spotlight on Disability:IN Partners using technology to enhance the accessibility of products we use every day.

Amtrak

Amtrak Provides Accessibility Upgrades at Utah Stations

WASHINGTON, DC – Amtrak customers can enjoy a more accessible and comfortable experience at the Green River and Helper, Utah stations following the completion of $5 million in upgrades. Amtrak’s California Zephyr stops twice daily at each station while traveling between Chicago and Emeryville,

Apple

The Right Shortcuts Can Give Your iPhone Superpowers. Here’s How.| WashingtonPost.com

Take the pain out of tedious tasks with Apple’s Shortcuts app.

Aira

Free Aira Access Offers by State & Province | Aira.io

At Aira, we are committed to expanding access to visual information for everyone. In this spirit, we work with Access Partners all over who provide Aira for free to their students, customers, residents, and visitors. This means anyone who is at one of the below Access locations can open the Aira app on their smartphone and instantly be connected to a professional visual interpreter. If you’re interested in finding out where you can connect with a visual interpreter for free in your state of province, read on.

AWS

Announcing Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) in AWS Artifact

Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) for AWS products and services are now available on AWS Artifact, a self-service portal for AWS compliance-related information. ACRs are documents that demonstrate the accessibility of AWS services.

Through AWS Artifact, you can download ACRs on-demand to understand the accessibility of a specific AWS product or service. AWS ACRs utilize the ITI Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT®) and reference various accessibility standards including Section 508 (U.S.), EN 301 549 (EU), and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Google

The Best Google Docs Keyboard Shortcuts for Boosting Your Productivity | Wired.com

Learn how to use keyboard shortcuts instead of mouse clicks for common tasks in Google Docs. You might be surprised at how much time you save.

Starbucks

All the Changes Starbucks Made to Its Cold Cups and Lids to Reduce Plastic and Help Visually Impaired People

The Starbucks tall, grande and venti cups will now all use the same lid.

Other Accessibility Highlights for this Month

Web Accessiblity

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities

ADA Title II web and mobile accessibility regulations were just published in the Federal Register.

Honda

New AI-Based Honda Scenic Audio App will Help Make the Joy of the Journey Accessible to the Blind and Visually Impaired | HondaNews.com

Honda Scenic Audio is the world’s first AI-powered accessibility app to enhance journeys in motor vehicles for the blind and visually impaired.

Optogenetics

Restoring Sight Is Possible Now With Optogenetics | TheWashingtonPost.com

People suffering from macular degeneration, along with other diseases that impair sight, may soon benefit from gene therapy.

Video Game Accessibility

‘The Indicator from Planet Money’: How video games became more accessible

For most of video game history, accessibility was sort of an afterthought. But that was before 2020 when a company called Naughty Dog released a game called The Last Of Us Part II. Our colleagues at The Indicator from Planet Money, Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong take us through the shift around accessibility.

European Accessibility Act

The European Accessibility Act Compliance Deadline Is Approaching — Are You Ready?

According to Forrester data, 59% of companies have executive commitment to creating accessible products and are doing the work to deliver on those commitments. I’ve written extensively about how commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion drove that percentage up in recent years. But right now we’re beginning to see the pendulum swing back towards compliance being the primary driver prompting organizations to commit to and mature their accessibility practices.

Designing Inclusively

Designing for Neurodiversity

By Rick Hansen Foundation On Apr 24, 2024

Accessibility & AI

How Standard Practice Is Using AI To Make Administrative Tasks More Accessible To Healthcare Workers Everywhere

The practitioners with whom Greene and Markunas worked reported a staggering amount of time was spent not with patients but with pushing pencils: handling administrative tasks such as making phone calls to get insurance authorizations prior to treatment.

PBS

PBS Looks To Make Kids’ Shows More Accessible

PBS Kids is offering episodes of “Alma’s Way” and other popular shows featuring ASL interpretation.

Anxiety in the Smartphone Age

Feel Anxiety When Separated from Your Phone? Is It Digital Malaise, Digital Burnout, Phone Addiction or Nomophobia?

Healthcare providers often face the challenge of maintaining digital accessibility without compromising their mental health. The dilemma is particularly evident when being “on call” for emergencies is required for a healthcare provider’s job. However, a growing number of professionals are vulnerable to experiencing malaise, digital burnout, phone addiction, or ‘nomophobia’—the fear of being without their smartphones.

Content Guru

Content Guru Adds Enhanced Accessibility Features to storm® to Enable Inclusive User Experiences

Content Guru, a leading global provider of cloud contact centre and CX technology, has announced the release of new updates to its award-winning contact centre solution, storm®, which will deliver increased accessibility for customer service agents and back-office users. A range of storm modules now meet the most up-to-date version of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2, the highest internationally recognized standard for web content accessibility, including for users with auditory, cognitive, physical and visual impairments or difficulties.

Accessible Environments

Accessible Environments and Multiple Sclerosis

When you face challenges with mobility, the accessibility of your environment can be a major factor in determining how active and engaged you’re able to be. To remain fully mobile, your home, workplace, neighborhood, transportation options and recreational activities must all suit your needs.Negative attitudes towards disability and adaptive equipment create as many barriers as the disease itself. To live your best life with MS, you must be willing to do things differently.

MagnusCards

Airport Launches Accessibility Initiative MagnusCards

Fresno, CA (April 22, 2024) – As part of World Autism Awareness Month, Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), in partnership with Magnusmode, has launched a new accessibility initiative, MagnusCards® to assist travelers.

MagnusCards is a smartphone application available for iOS and Android created by Magnusmode that offers travelers step-by-step visuals, audio, and text to make daily activities more manageable for people of all abilities including their travels through FAT.

RIoT

Tiny tech promises more accessible, individualized health care

Last week, RIoT hosted a gathering to discuss personalized healthcare. The premise is that digital technologies, wearables and advanced analytics will lead to a paradigm shift in how we approach managing our health.

AI & Tourism

AI and digital tools play pivotal role in tourism

The market segment devoted to catering to the needs of individuals with disabilities constitutes a substantial and burgeoning component of the global tourism landscape.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools are playing an increasingly pivotal role in facilitating accessibility and inclusivity.

Accessible Tourism Sees a Major Milestone in Global Travel and Tourism Industry

milestone-in-global-travel-and-tourism-industry/

In recent years, the travel and tourism industry has reached a significant milestone in its journey towards inclusivity and accessibility. Accessible tourism, which aims to ensure that tourist destinations, products, and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities, or age, has gained momentum across the globe.

City of Regina

City of Regina introduces new accessibility master plan

The 60-action, 10-year Regina Accessibility Plan will go for final approval at city council on April 24.

Planning for Accessibility

Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility

Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.

Pottery Barn

POTTERY BARN ANNOUNCES ACCESSIBLE HOME FURNISHINGS COLLECTION IN COLLABORATION WITH MICHAEL GRAVES DESIGN

Pottery Barn, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM), the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, announced today the upcoming launch of an accessible home furnishings collection developed in collaboration with Michael Graves Design. Renowned for expertise in accessible design innovation, Michael Graves Design and Pottery Barn have partnered to create a new collection of bedroom furnishings and upholstery pieces, thoughtfully designed to make life at home safer and more accessible. The Michael Graves Design for Pottery Barn collaboration will launch in July 2024.

Accessibility and Breast Cancer Screenings

Mammograms are routine. For people who use wheelchairs, they’re anything but

Lack of accessible clinics puts breast cancer screening out of reach for many people

Wheelchair users turned away from mammogram clinics

OneCourt

Trail Blazers pilot OneCourt’s device for fans with blindness or low vision

OneCourt allows fans to experience live gameplay through tracking data with haptics and tactile court/field outlines.

During their final home stand of the regular season, the Portland Trail Blazers held a pilot test with accessibility tech company OneCourt. OneCourt created a device for sports fans with blindness or low vision, allowing them to experience live gameplay through tracking data with haptics and tactile court/field outlines.

Zappar

ZAPPAR CREATES ACCESSIBLE QR CODES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED SHOPPERS

Zappar, a UK based company has come up with a new accessible QR code solution that will help blind and partially sighted people access product information on store shelves and in cabinets at home relatively quickly.

Accessibility Technology Ensures Everyone Gets a Day at the Beach

New accessibility tools, such as modular mats like Access Trax, allow wheelchair users to get much closer to the water, and stay in their own chairs, than older types of beach-access mats allow.